EP calls different Paschal dates a "scandal"
( Orthodox Times ) - Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew extended in his homily his heartfelt wishes to all the non-Orthodox Christians who celebrated the Holy Easter on Sunday, March 31, after presiding over the Sunday Divine Liturgy at the Church of Saint Theodore of the Community of Vlanga. “On this day, the timeless message of the Resurrection resonates more profoundly than ever, as our non-Orthodox Christian brethren and sisters commemorate the resurrection of our Lord from the dead, celebrating Holy Easter. We have already sent our representatives to all the Christian Communities of the confessions here, to extend our heartfelt wishes of the Holy Great Church of Christ and our Patriarchal congratulations. But also from this position we extend a heartfelt greeting of love to all Christians around the world who celebrate Holy Easter today. We beseech the Lord of Glory that the forthcoming Easter celebration next year will not merely be a fortuitous occurrence, but rather the beginning...
This is excellent news.
ReplyDeleteExcellent in what way? Obviously, it is always good for brothers to dwell together in unity but do you mean something more?
ReplyDeleteIt is excellent in that a primate of the Orthodox Church in America con-celebrated with the Ecumenical Patriarch. Given the controversy over the status of the OCA within the Orthodox communion, and its lack of participation in the upcoming Great Council, I see this a great step in the right direction. Not that the OCA and the EP were not in communion before this but I can't recall when a Primate of the OCA concelebrated the liturgy with the EP.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very positive step in a healthy direction. Yet there are undoubtedly some commentators of a more cynical disposition toward the EP who may see this as presaging an attempted power grab in North America. I rather prefer to be optimistic. In any case, I'd prefer that to being reabsorbed by Moscow - not that that option is even on the table, though there were rumors about Metropolitan Jonah to that effect. Really it'd just be nice to be decolonized by foreign bishoprics altogether. Alas. To be fair, let's just say it's hard not to be cynical about the behavior of our hierarchs. May God preserve them in every way.
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